Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-06-04
REAL ESTATE AFFAIRS.
Activity i'm Property ON the Virginia
Side Of the Potomac.

| Side Of the Potomac.
| IMPROVEMENTS ALONG TEE TENLEYTowN RoAD-N
| CREASED RATES FOR TITLE SEARCHERS-NEW
| BUILDINGS IN THE VICINITY OF THE CAPITOL
| SOME OF THE NEW HOUSES GOING UP.
| The purchase OF the Aqueduct Bridge by the
| Government, and the discussion in regard to the
proposed erection OF the Grant memorial bridge &c
Arlington, has had the effect of calling the atten-
ton OF investors to the land in Alexandria County
Va, III the vicinity OF Arlington and the Aqueduct
Bridge. The erection Of a new bridge on the piers
OF the Aqueduct Bridge is now in progress, and ii
is expected that early In the coming fall it will be
ready for use, with the additional advantage over
the old bridge Of being free to ALL Already some
OF the property In the vicinity has changed hands.
AS previously stated in THE STAR, Mr. A. r. Barker
and others have purchased tract OF land contain
ing 80 acres, bordering on the Potomac, a short
distance north OF the approach to the old AQueduct
| Bridge. These gentlemen have begun TO make a
SUBDIVISION OF the property with the view OF laying
out villa sites Twenty years ago Mr.. Ii. H. Wells,
| Mr.. DUNCAN and the other lessess OF the old
the approach TO the bridge, which they su6divided
| and named Rosslyn. 1t was given that
name because MI. Ross who owned most Of the
| land, had his residence there. No houses were
| erected and 1t has been only a town on paper.
| Recently, however Messrs. Wells & DUNCAN pur-
made an addition to the old subdivision OF ROSS
| lyn. Then these gentlemen formed q syndicate,
| OF which MeSsrs Jno. W. Thompson, W. s. Thomp-
| son, NJ w. Beveridge, and N. w. Burchell are
members, and the entire tract is now under their
control. lt has been placed on the market, and
some OF the lots have been sold This subdivision
| lies between the upper and lower Falls Church
roads, and extends about mile back from the
river. There has also recently been sold several
acres, located on the two roads to Falls Church,
also on the road to the Chain Bridge, and in the
n aedaee vicinity OF that bridge me prices
speculation which has pushed investments far
beyond the bounds OF the city on the north, and
also into Montgomery County, Md, has, as 1t may
be seen, crossed the Potomac into Virginia.
THE QUESTION OF RETRoCEssIoN.
AS will be remembered by those familiar with
the history Of the District, the entire county Of
Alexandria, where all this property Is located,
together with the city Of Alexandria, comprising
in all nearly forty square miles, once part OF
the District. In 1916 Congress passed an act re-
preceding that portion OF the District which had
been coded TO the United States by the State OF
Virginia In 100 back to the State, and the retro
ceSSlon received the Endorsement, by popular vote
of the citizens Of the county. 1t has been main
tanned that this law enacted by Congress was un-
CONSTITUTIONAL and those interested In property In
Alexandria county propose by petition TO ask con-
gress, at its next session, to restore Alexandria
County TO the District. This will not be the hrst
time that this question has been agltated. In the
year 1874 1t came before the Supreme Court OF the
Distrct.and was then appealed to the United States
Supreme Court, where, in 1873, the case was
argued by MesSrs. Samuel s. Shelabarger and w.
Wllloughby. The case came before the courts In
III. n. n.
owner of a tract of land near the Chain Bridge
The property was assessed for taxes by the Alex
andria County officials, which Mr.. Phillips paid
under protest. He then instituted suit against
the tax collector for the recovery OF the money,
claiming that his property lay within the bounds
OF the District, and therefore was not subject to
taxation by the Virginia authorities. The District
supreme Court did not sustain him, and then he
appealed to the United States Supreme Court,
where 1t was argued in his behalf that the act was
not constitutional, for the reason that it was not
competent for Congress to retrOcede what the
Constitution had for particular purpose, author
thOrlZed 1t TO accept Congress accepted this ces-
sion OF land not for ITSELF but for the people OF the
United States. and the people being invested with
the title and right Of sovereignty could not be di
vested OF 1t except by their own consent. 1t was
further argued that the bill in providing for the
assent OF the people OF the town and county of
Alexandria condition OF the act becoming
operative did literally delegate to these citizens
the powers and prerOgratives of Congress and the
President, to whom the law-makins power had
been intruSted by the Constitution. 1t was claimed
that important legislative functions could not
thus be delegated. The decision OF the court was,
that as the present government OF Alexandria
County had not been objected to by either the
State or the National Government during the quar-
ter OF a century of its existence and as 1t had
been recognized by the political department OF the
State and affirmed by the judicial department, an
issue which neither party wishes to make cannot
be forced upon them. The appeal was not sus-
tanned. AS may be seen, the Supreme Court did
not pass upon the cOnStituttOna1ty OF the act but
simply recognized the fact that the government
then existing was the recognized government by
all the parties concerned. The persons interested
in this case claim that In the light OF this decision
the Initiative step toward retrocesston must be
the State Of Virginia. Therefore, they propose to
petition Congress.
COL BUGHER'S HOUSE.
Work has been begun upon handsome house
for Col A. II. Bugher. II is situated on street,
between 18th and 18th streets The front of the
house will be picturesque combination OF stone
and brick. The structure will have frontage OF
about 40 feet and a depth OF a, and will cost
10000 WIN. NJ. PoindeXter is the architect.
ALONG THE TENLEYTOwN ROAD.
The recent purchasers of the College villa and
the NOurse properties on the Tenleytown road, as
well as a portion OF Secretary Whitneys farm,
have force OF men at work making improve
ments. The land fronting on the Tenleytown road
is being graded, with the view Of adding to the
attractions OF that locality. When the subdi-
visions OF these properties is completed it is the
intention TO lay out streets. WOrkmen are en-
gagged in sinking an artesian well near the en-
trance to the Country Club House grounds, and 1t
is expected that by this means supply OF water
Will be secured for the entire property. AS stated
in The STAR, there about $50 acres comprising
the aDOve-named tracts, as well as portions OF
by the same parties or syndicate and the Improve
mentS already begun are said to be but the begin
ming of an extensive plan or Improvements which
Will transform this entire tract into a park 1t
Will be, however, park not for pleasure alone
but to be used for residence purposes Also The
park will hardly assume shape until next year
hut still there are arranpernents cOmn1eteI Sn.
the accommodation OF those who wish to 90 out
that way during the warm weather. The Country
Club OF course entertainS its many friends. while
Secretary Whitney diSpenses pleasant hospital
ity 10 his visitors. The Washington Inn a new
hotel which has just been completed by Mr.. A. E.
Bateman and his associates will be opened In a
few weeks with accommodations for about fifty
people.
The only recent movement of property In this
locality Is the purchase OF the farms OF the late
Mr.. Jos. II. Bradley and Mr.. 3. T. Swart. The
former has been bought by syndicate OF WASH
inc on nd no lafr Nv
Passos, a New York lawyer. Both OF these farms
however, are located some distance north and east
OF Tenleytown. 1t Is probably the intention OF the
purchasers 10 Subdtvide these farms into building
sites, in much the same way as Senator Cameron
Is Subdivlding the Lay farm, on the 18th street
road This latter subdivision has not yet been
placed on the market. IL Is 10 be given the name
OF Rosser which is OF Scotch origin and is said To
have been selected by Mrs. Cameron.
IMPROVING AN ENTIRE SQUARE.
The removal few years ago OF the Washington
and Georgetown Street Railway stables from the
square adjoining the Capitol grounds on the north
has provided fine building sites, which are now
gradually being improved. The SURROUNDINGS ara
OF such character as 70 make this locality desira.
bic for residence purposes The square has been
Subdivided, and a new street running from north
To south has been opened and named Arthur Place
Under the superintendent OF Mr.. Geo. E EN-
mons, or B. Ii. Warner & Co.. ten houses have been
erected on this street. and the District govern
ment, under the permit system, Is now laying a
pavement OF asphalt blocks and putting down
brick sidewalks. The new street extends from
street 10 street, the former fronting on the
beautiful Capitol Park. The new houses have
press-brick fronts and are built In tasteful style
which now IS the feature in house construction In
vho